63 (371). To the Governor of Neo-Caesarea
SAINT BASIL
the necessary duty of caring for the Church, so that the holy God may give heed to His own flock and provide for you a shepherd according to His will, one who will govern you wisely.
63. To the Governor of Neo-Caesarea 1 'The wise man, e'en though he dwells in a distant land, though I may never behold him with my eyes, I account my friend,' says the tragic poet Euripides.2 If we say, therefore, even though we have never enjoyed the favor of personal acquaintance with your Excellency,3 that we are your intimate friend, do not judge these words to be flattery. Our friendship has sprung from report that with mighty voice proclaimed your achievements to all men. Moreover, since meeting with the most revered Elpidius,4 we have come to know you as well, and have been as utterly captivated by you, as if we had been associated with you for a long time, gaining knowledge of your virtues through long experience. For, the man could not stop telling us every detail about youyour nobility of soul, your loftiness of spirit, your gentleness of disposition, your experience in affairs, your prudence in judgment, your dignity blended with joyousness, your eloquence, and other qualities which he enumerated in his long conversation with us but which we cannot write without making our letter excessively long. How, then, could I help esteemI A respectful salutation to the Governor of Neo-Caesarea. written in 371.
2 From an unknown play of Euripides. Cf. Nauck, Trag. Graec. Fra./!;. No.
902. Similar expressIOns are found in Iamblichus, De vita Pythag. 33.237; Procop. Gaz .• Epist. 154; and Cicero. De nat. deorum 1.44.121.
3 Megalophuias_a title of address used by St. Basil for the clergy and for laymen.
4 An Elpidius is also mentioned in Letters 64, 77, and 78.